Background HIV infection is a risk factor for the acquisition and transmission of other sexually transmission infections (STIs). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses viral load and generally improves the lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV) including resumption of sexual activities. This may lead to an increase in STI rates. We determined the prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae among PLHIV who have been on ART

Methods This cross sectional study conducted among PLHIV between June and August 2018 employed a sensitive multiplex real time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that simultaneously detects the seven most common bacterial pathogens responsible for STI’s. PLHIV attending a specialist STI clinic at Suntreso Government Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana who had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for more than 5 years were eligible for enrolment into the study. Informed consent was obtained prior to enrolment. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16.

Results There were 400 PLHIV enrolled into the study consisting of 224 (56.0%) males and 176 (44.0%) females. Majority 324 (81.1%) of the participants were asymptomatic. Overall, 245 (61.3%) of enrolled patients were positive for at least one of the seven pathogens tested. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was the most common pathogen 44 (10.1%) detected followed by Mycoplasma genitalium (26; 6.4%) and Chlamydia trachomatis (5; 1.3%). Only 3.9% of the participants with gonorrhoeae had symptoms.

Conclusion Neisseria gonorrhoeae remains an important causative pathogen for STI in persons living with HIV. There is the likelihood of most of these infections going undetected since most of them did not have symptoms. Improved diagnostic methods like PCR are needed to identify and treat such STIs effectively when PLHIV who are on ART.

Disclosure No significant relationships.